To mustard, or not to mustard?

Mark_B_Good

Guys, lately I've been using mustard as a binder for my seasoning on a lot of different meats (pork, beef).
Some/most of the cooks have come out a tad too salty. I've always blamed it on the seasoning (overseasoned? KEG seasoning??).  

Now I'm starting to wonder if it isn't the mustard ... either compounding the salt flavor, or allowing the salt to penentrate the meat more.

What the heck is GOING ON?!?!

Acn

I’d guess probably the mustard, I know when we do tuna/chicken salad or a homemade salad dressing we don’t need much extra salt because of the salt in Dijon.

Also, seasoning sticks to raw meat just fine on its own, I’d ditch the mustard altogether.

TEXASBGE2018

I would say it's the mustard. I would say it's more to do with as it dries out any liquid is evaporated and you are left with concentrations of salt.

Hub

I've used regular ol' yellow mustard for years.  I've always been of the opinion the mustard completely cooks off and has no bearing on final taste.  Of course, the mustard will help bind the seasonings to the meat as opposed to them falling into your fire.  That's just the mustard doing its job.

SGH

Hub said:

I've used regular ol' yellow mustard for years.  I've always been of the opinion the mustard completely cooks off and has no bearing on final taste.  Of course, the mustard will help bind the seasonings to the meat as opposed to them falling into your fire.  That's just the mustard doing its job.

I agree 99%. The only time I notice mustard adding any flavor is on deep fried soft shell crabs. And ironically enough it’s not a “mustard taste”.  It’s a great taste. Just doesn’t taste like mustard though. Maybe is because crabs are very light meat and the cooking is extremely fast. But it definitely imparts a taste. Again, in no way do you get any hint of mustard. 

RRP

I imagine it depends on what type of mustard you are using and even right on down to the brand besides. Personally I normally use plain ol' cheap French's yellow mustard as a binder and I've never noticed a salty taste difference when I do use it or skip it. Also when you use the word "tad" that means not much. Furthermore if you are using any pork which is injected then that to me is where excessive salt taste comes into play and again different producers seem to use varying levels of salt in their injection solution!

Carolina Q

Using mustard as a binder is a waste of a perfectly good hot dog condiment.

SonVolt

I seriously doubt the mustard is responsible for the over seasoning you're experiencing. 

4TheGrillOfIt

You are probably over-seasoning because your are using a binder.  Sans binder the excess seasoning falls harmlessly onto the cutting board.   You don’t have to use a binder on anything.  

RyanStl

I agree with Acn and others. There's no need to use mustard.

fishlessman

more rub sticks to mustard, if its a salty rub you get twice the salt to stick. i only use mustard on butts and pork ribs and cut the rub with brown sugar

jdMyers

So I'm posting as I have wondered similar thoughts on taste.   So I went as far as measuring everything so I knew the consistency was the same each time.  Different mustards  have some small differences in flavor.  I tried different binders including mayonnaise.  Try mayonnaise as a binder.  It's awesome.  Steak sauce and applesauce work well too.

TechsasJim

I use mustard on pork items.   Just put a 7# butt on a bit ago 

Mark_B_Good

jdMyers said:

So I'm posting as I have wondered similar thoughts on taste.   So I went as far as measuring everything so I knew the consistency was the same each time.  Different mustards  have some small differences in flavor.  I tried different binders including mayonnaise.  Try mayonnaise as a binder.  It's awesome.  Steak sauce and applesauce work well too.

I'm going to try mayonnaise this weekend, thanks for the tip.

lkapigian

Mustard is about 2% salt, not really enough to oversalt if using as a binder where as a commercial rub is 25-50 % salt 

Canugghead

I've also used mayo or worstershire sauce as binder;  I usually go light on salt/rub so it's hard to notice any significant difference.  

FWIW, visually mustard help to sprinkle rub/spices of contrasting colour more evenly.

TEXASBGE2018

Personally I never use anything as a binder as I haven't had any issues with rubs not binding on their own. I suggest using something cheap and doing a comparison get some spare
ribs or something and measure out the exact same amount of rub. Then put mustard and the rub on one and only the rub on the other. See if you notice a difference

TechsasJim

End product.  Wrapped and set aside to be shredded and add the finishing components. 

jtcBoynton

My theory - using the mustard is allowing more of the very salty rub to adhere to the meat.

Mark_B_Good

jtcBoynton said:

My theory - using the mustard is allowing more of the very salty rub to adhere to the meat.

That's what I think is the issue.